Fish lure



Dec. 28, 1937. 1.. A. VERZI 2,103,994

FISH LURE Filed Jan. 5, 19:57

Patented n... as, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

FISH LUBE Linus -A. 'Ve'rzi, Arlingt n. Va, assignor of oneto Emery N. Hosm'er, Arlington County, a,

Application Jan iary 5,

- This invention relates toflsh lures of the type known as diving plugs, compr'isingingeneral a woodenbody simulating a fish, carrying hooks and having a plane on its nose so directed that 5 when the plug is pulled forward, it dives.

The presentinvention has for one of its objects to provide a diving plug which will not yaw.

Another object of the invention is the pro- 1 vision of a diving plug so constructed that it will l wiggle.

A further object of the invention is the pro-e vision of a diving plug having an air chamber at' the rear, and a blunt rear end creating vacuum when the plug is in forward motion, eifective to l draw an air bell behind the plug from said air chamber, which from time to time breaks intobubbles forming a wake designed to attract the attention of fish.

-Other objects of' the invention will appear as the following description oi a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing, throughout the several-figures of which the same characters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is .a longitudinal elevation partly in section showing a diving plug embodying the principles of my invention, in diving position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the numeral I represents the body which is preferably wood, but which may be made of any other suitable buoyant substance. It is preferably cylindrical in cross section and tapers slightly toward the rear. The front or head portion 2 has a flat forward surface 3 inclining downwardly.

In general, the head 2 may be said to roughly I simulate the head of a fish and to enhance the illusion it may be provided with an eye 4 which is common in lures of this class. A plate 5 preferably of sheet metal, although any other relatively heavy substance may be employed, is

secured to the fiat surface 3 and extends down I wardly approximately at the point at which it intersects the forward geometrical projection of the lower side of the body. The nose terminates at the point 6 which is about in the median plane of the body, a chamber I thus being joined back of the extending portion of the plate 5. The rear wall of said chamber is formed by an abrupt shoulder 8 extending transversely of the head 2 and-being overhung by a flat portion 9 of the nose and the curved surface of atransverse groove l8. The water displaced by the extended por- 193?. Serial No. 119.131 (01. 43-46) tion of the plate] flows up into the chamber 1 where it performs two distinct functions. i

In this connection it will be noted that there is no obstruction on the transverse surfaces formed by the flat portion 9, the groove III or the 5 shoulder 8. Consequently, there is no mechanical element dividingthe water which strikes the surfaces into right and left columns, but the water is free to choose a divided pathin which the predominance of flow either to the right or. left is determined by incidental circumstances such 7 as may be set up by a slight rocking of the body I about its longitudinal axis.

The currents which flow out to the right and leftunder'the continual pressure of the water which is displaced from in front of the'extended portion of ,the plate 5 into the chamber 1 define a V-'-shaped region in the water which surrounds I v the forward part of the plug at the apex of which region the head of the plug rests, the velocity of the right and leftward currents a and b, Figure 3. acting to inhibit any deflection of the plug to the right or left and so preventing. yawing of the same. Any slight incidental disturbing force tending to rock the plug on its axis will incline the transverse surfaces against which'the water of displacement impinges and particularly the surfaces 9 and in causing more water to flow one way than another, temporarily. unbalancing the normal equality of the velocity values of the currentsv a and b and creating an oscillatory movement of theplug about its longitudinal axis. Great care is taken that the transverse shoulder 8 be made almost normal with respect to the plane embracing the lower side of the plug rather than to have it more acutely inclined,-for if it were inclined at an acute angle it would have a lifting effect upon the front of the plug tending all the time to lift it out of the apex of the angle formed by the currents. a and b, removing it from the close control of said currents and permitting it to yaw.

The abruptness of the shoulder 8 also has another function. The water of displacement impinging against it with the lateral inequality of pressure which is incidental to the use of the device gives the plug an oscillatory motion about a vertical axis somewhere adjacent the head portion and imparts a characteristic wiggle to the plug. v

It will be observed from Figure 1 that the plug is provided with quite a sizable and preferably cylindrical well- It in its rear end. The primary purpose "of this is toenable the plug to receive and carry a volume of air in said well.

In conjunction with the well feature, the plug is also blunt at the end. This is contrary to the customary practice of providing a streamlined contour, but .it has an extreme value. It is known that a blunt end to a moving body creates a vacuum behind that body and in the present invention the vacuum produced behind the blunt end I! expands-theair--in the=chamber.--ilcausing an air bell. to traiLbeh-lnd the-[111118. ..It is known that,air bells give vivid light-reflective effects in the water which serve to attract the fish From time to time the air bell breaks into chains of bubbles in the rear ofthe moving plug which adds to the efficiency of the lure. .wnuever the plug is'in motion asmall amountof residual air remains in the chamber held there by the vacuum which escapes .to .the surface whenever the forward movement of the plug is checked. Each time the plug is broughttogthe surface, the volume of airim the well is.replenished. llhe anti-streamline shape of the rear end of the plug causesit to produce a diyergent wake or region of turbulenca'iwhere it;br'e5lks the. surface of the water, this being; a further" fea-; ture of attraction of the fish to'thelure'. T

The position of the hooks is optional; however, it is preferred to have. the weight of the several non-buoyant parts of the lure. .so dis-.

30 tributedthat when the line is slacked, the plug will rise to the surface on an even keel. While .I. have in the above description dis closed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will be understood to those skilled in the art thatthe details of construction as shown and described are by way of example, and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim is I 1. A- diving plug comprising a buoyant body having the upper portion of its forward end formedwith a flat transverse face sloping downwardly toward the front, having the lower portion of its forward end under-cut to form a transverse upper face and a transverse back hav ingthe upper portion of its forward end formed with a flatjransverse face sloping downwardly towardth'e front, and having the lower portion of its forward end under-cut to form a transverse upper face "and a transverse back' shoulder, said shoulder sloping rearwardiy and downwardly at a small angle to a plane perpendicfilarf to the longitudinal axis of said body, anda plate secured to said sloping face extending downwardly beyond said face at LINUS A. VERZI. 4

a diving angle. 

